Genomic sequence of the human μ-opioid receptor gene and the variants, polymorphisms and mutations thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns the genomic sequence of the human mu opioid receptor gene and its variants, polymorphisms and mutations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the genomic sequence of the human μ-opioid receptor gene and its variants, polymorphisms and mutations and their use.

As is known, the human μ-opioid receptor controls pain perception, ‘reward’ mechanisms and further important physiological functions. It is the highly specific target for morphine, the classical painkiller in contemporary medicine. In addition, it is target for further medically important analgesics, anesthetics and therapeutics such as e.g. methadone and fentanyl and commonly used addictive substances such as e.g. heroin and methadone. A number of (patho)physiological, biochemical, pharmacological findings, and observations from μ-opioid receptor knock out mice demonstrate that the μ opioid receptor gene is playing a major role in analgesia and anesthesia, and in the development and maintenance of addictions (dependence on opiates, alcoholism and other forms of dependence). Therefore, variants in the regulating, coding and intronic regions of this gene may contribute to genetic risk for addictions. In addition, such variants may affect the responsiveness of this receptor to endogenous and exogenous receptor ligands.

Addictions are common diseases of international dimension and cause, in general, scarcely comprehensible grave economic damages to the amount of billions up to trillions, not to speak of the deleterious psychosocial consequences for the individual, his family and society.

The genomic sequence of the human μ opioid receptor gene is not known. So far only the cDNA of the μ opioid receptor gene has been described; the first cDNA of a μ opioid receptor was cloned by means of probes targeted against conserved regions of the δ opioid receptor from a rat cDNA gene bank by Chen et al. (Molecular cloning and functional expression of a mu opioid receptor from rat brain. Mol. Pharmacol. 44, 8-12, 1993), the first human MOR cDNA by Wang et al. (Mu opiate receptor: cDNA cloning and expression. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 10230-10234, 1993). The only promoter sequence so far known was cloned from a mouse gene bank (Min. et al., Genomic structure and analysis of promoter sequence of a mouse μ opioid receptor gene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 9081-9085,1994).

Actual findings obtained from ‘knockout’ mice with an interrupted μ opioid receptor gene show clearly that the analgesic and ‘reward’ inducing and dependence inducing effects of morphine are brought about specifically through the μ-opioid receptor subtype, yet not through δ- and κ opioid receptor subtypes. Accordingly, the μ opioid receptor is mandatory for morphine action in vivo (Matthes et al., Loss of morphine-induced analgesia, reward effect and withdrawal symptoms in mice lacking the μ opioid receptor gene. Nature 383, 819-823, 1996). A series of pharmacological and other studies have shown that the μopioid receptor expressed in brain is of key importance for the development of tolerance, addiction and analgesia (Reisine, Neurotransmitter Receptors V., Neuropharmacology 34, 463-472, 1995). In this context, endorphins come into consideration as endogenous ligands. Exogenous μ opioid receptor ligands such as morphine, codeine, methadone and fentanyl have been used for a long time as analgesics and therapeutics in clinics.

As is known, the clinical use of opiates causes undesired side effects such as breathing disturbances, miosis, nausea and vomiting, sedation, depression and dependence.

It is the objective of the invention to identify and provide the genomic sequence of the human μ opioid receptor which may be used as basis for the development of specific and efficient analgesics, anesthetics and therapeutics for addiction, in particular for developing e.g. analgesics not having addictive side effects, or for developing diagnostic kits.

According to the invention it was possible to identify and provide the genomic sequence of the human μ opioid receptor gene and of variants, polymorphisms and mutants in specific populations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The genomic DNA sequence of the human μ opioid receptor amplified and sequenced according to the invention consists of

1) a promoter region (incl. 5′ regulatory region) SEQ ID no. 1 of a length of altogether 2412 bp.

The promoter is cloned according to methods known per se by amplifying the five various genomic DNA regions covering the human μ opioid receptor promoter region.

2) Intron 2 the genomic DNA sequence of which is between nucleotides 855 and 856 of the cDNA sequence (or between nucleotides 643 and 644 related to A of the translation starting point) of a length of 773 bp according to SEQ ID no. 2.

3) the 5′ region of intron 1 the genomic DNA sequence of which is behind nucleotide 502 of the cDNA sequence (or behind nucleotide 290 related to the translation starting point) of a length of 383 bp according to SEQ ID no. 3; and the 3′ region the genomic DNA sequence of which is in front of nucleotide 503 of the cDNA sequence (or in front of nucleotide 291 related to the translation starting point) of a length of 538 bp according to SEQ ID no. 4.

4) the 5′ region of intron 3 the genomic DNA sequence of which is behind nucleotide 1376 of the cDNA sequence (or behind nucleotide 1164 related to the translation starting point) of a length of 300 bp according to SEQ ID no. 5; and the 3′ region the genomic DNA sequence of which is in front of nucleotide 1377 of the cDNA sequence (or in front of nucleotide 1165 related to the translation starting point) of a length of 400 bP according to SEQ ID no. 6.

Sequencing of the intron is carried out analogously to sequencing of promoters.

In addition, there was detected that the human cDNA sequence already known consisting of 2162 bp is defective in the first 16 nucleotides. According to the invention the cDNA has SEQ ID no. 7.

The genomic sequence of the human μ opioid receptor gene is represented in illustrations 1a and 1b in a survey.

Four different transcription starting positions were identified in positions 212, 329, 371 and 421 bp upstream of the translation star site (ATG).

Variants, polymorphisms and mutants in specific populations are marked by base exchange. According to the invention these are base exchanges in up to 100 nucleotide positions, preferably up to 37 base exchanges are identified. In the cDNA region, in particular, preferably up to 20 base exchanges are identified, most preferably up to 11 base exchanges.

In a scheme according to the invention base exchanges take place in the following positions of the promoter (=RG=5′ regulatory region), of the exons (=cDNA sequence) and of the introns:

Exchange of Exchange of amino acids/ Region Name nucleotides Splice variant position cDNA −1793/4T→A T→A at RG −1793/4 −1768ins22 Insertion of RG 22 bp behind −1768 −1699insT Insertion of T RG behind −1699 −1595T→C T→C at −1595 RG −1565T→C T→C at −1565 RG −1469T→C T→C at −1469 RG −1320A→G A→G at −1320 RG −1255A→T A→T at −1255 RG −1236A→G A→G at −1236 RG −1171A→G A→G at −1171 RG −1045A→G A→G at −1045 RG  −995C→A C→A at −995 RG  −692G→C G→C at −692 RG  −665del3 Deletion of RG 3 bp from −665 to −663  −554G→A G→A at −554 RG  −488G→T G→T at −488 RG  −254A→C A→C at −254 RG  −236A→G A→G at −236 RG  −172G→T G→T at −172 Exon 1 41  −133C→T C→T at −133 Exon 1 80  −111C→T C→T at −111 Exon 1 102  −38C→A C→A at −38 Exon 1 175 A6V(C→T) C→T at 17 Ala→Val at 6 Exon 1 229 N40D(A→G) A→G at 118 Asn→Asp at 40 Exon 1 330 N152D(A→G) A→G at 454 Asn→Asp bei 152 Exon 2 666 IVS2 + G→A at 643 + Putative Intron 2 31G→A 31 splice variant IVS2 + T→C at 643 + Intron 2 106T→C 106 IVS2 + T→A at 643 + Intron 2 397T→A 397 IVS2 + G→A at 643 + Intron 2 438G→A 438 IVS2 + T→C at 643 + Intron 2 480T→C 480 IVS2 + C→T at 643 + Intron 2 534C→T 534 IVS2 + G→C at 643 + Intron 2 691G→C 691 R265H(G→A) G→A at 794 Arg→His at 265 Exon 3 1006 S268P(T→C) T→C at 802 Ser→Pro at 268 Exon 3 1014 T314T(G→A) G→A at 942 Thr = Thr at 314 Exon3 1154 IVS3 + A→C at Intron 3 37A→C 1164 + 37 1401G→C G→C at 1401 Exon 4 1613

This exchange may be optionally effected only in one of the above-mentioned nucleotide positions, in any of the positions mentioned, or in all of the positions mentioned.

According to the invention such interindividual allelic variations in the coding and regulatory DNA regions of the human μ opioid receptor gene may be associated with individually different responsiveness to anesthetics/therapeutics and/or addictive substances, as well as an increased genetic risk for substance, dependence or e.g. physiologically modified pain sensitivity. Thus, they are used as a starting point for the development of individually tailored therapeutics, the prediction of individual therapeutic ‘response’ and the genetic risk of addiction, contributing thus, at the same time, to prevention. In addition, they are the starting point for the genotypification of individuals to examine relevant environmental factors for the development of addition on the long term.

Thus, according to the invention the sequences serve the development of therapeutics, in particular analgesics/anesthetics and drug-therapeutics. They are used for building up genes and vectors which form the basis for the development of these pharmaceutically relevant substances.

Apart from that, diagnostic test kits are provided for predicting the risk of addiction such as e.g. dependence on opiates, alcoholism, dependence on cocaine etc. or for predicting the individual responsiveness to various analgesics and/or anesthetics and for the individually differing disposition to side effects of pharmaceutics.

In further perfecting the invention is was detected that associations of variants detected in the μ opioid receptor gene occur with diseases or clinically relevant phenotypes.

A significant association/specific connection of the Asn→Asp mutation in position 40 of the amino acid sequence (position 330 of the cDNA sequence) with family-related alcoholism was detected. This sequence position is not only connected with alcoholism as a specific form of addiction but also with a general disposition to addiction as it finds its expression in man by the nearly usual, very frequently occurring clinical form of multiple drug dependence (here caused by the simultaneous abuse of alcohol, opiates and cocaine). In addition, this mutation results in a functional state of the human μ opiate receptor which leads to a modified responsiveness of the receptor to ligands (endogenous and exogenous ligands including therapeutics, anesthetics and drugs) and a modified responsiveness of the receptor to a prolonged or repeated application of these ligands, thus being of importance to the development of tolerance (desensitization of the receptor to a chronic administration of pharmaceuticals) and dependence.

Furthermore, there was detected that the specific combinations of variants in the 5′ regulatory region are connected with a disposition to various diseases, in particular addictions. In particular, the positions −1793/4T→A, −1768ins22, −1699insT, −1469T→C, and −1320A→G are of relevance in this respect. Especially the combination −1793/4A, −1768 wild type, −1699insT, −1469T and −1320G is connected with a disposition to cocaine abuse and with a disposition to addiction in general (including alcoholism and dependence on opiates) and is functionally accompanied by a modified expression of the receptor. This combination described (‘haplotype’) can better describe the real, overall functional state of the receptor in the pathophysiological situation than an individual, associated variant. This analysis is based on the concept that the differing functional (dysfunctional) receptor states are not exclusively based on individual mutations but that they are also caused by the individual “polymorphic” total gene sequence (gene profile) as a unity determining the functions.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is a method for identifying the dispositions to diseases wherein the DNA of a proband is isolated and genotypied in selected positions and subsequently compared with the reference DNA sequence. Forms of execution where the positions −1793/4T→A, −1768ins22, −1699insT, −1469T→C and −1320A→G are genotypied are preferred.

To detect the disposition to addiction it will be sufficient if 3 of these 5 positions will be investigated, yet it would be preferable to genotype all 5 positions to obtain reliable data. Additionally, it is possible to investigate position 330 of the cDNA sequence in connection with a disposition to alcohol by means of the test method.

Genotypification is effected by sequencing or other methods suited for detecting point mutations. They involve PCR-based genotyping methods such as e.g. allele-specific-PCR, other genotyping methods using oligonucleotides and methods using restriction enzymes.

The method according to the invention allows a. o. to detect a disposition to family-related alcoholism, addiction to cocaine and a dependence on opiates. Furthermore, an individually differing responsiveness to receptor agonists and antagonists may be detected.

Promoter 2412 bp SEQ ID no. 1 TGTGTTAGTGAGCAGACCTCCCTTAGGAACCTTATTACGGAGTACAAAGCTAGGAGAGTAAATAA AGTATATTAAAAAATGCATACAAAAGATGACAGAATCACCATTCCAAAAGATCTTGGTGGATAAG AATCATGAATTGGATCTAACAAGATGTAACTTAAAAGTGAAAAAATCTATAGTGTTGTACTGAGC TCCCTCCAAAGCAACTATAAATTTATAGGAGATGAAACATATGATTCACCAGGCATAAGAAGAAA GTTTCCGTAATCAAACACTATTGTATCCATCTTTTTAAACTCCAGCTCCTATCACAGCACCTGGT CCAAAGCAGATCTTTAGTATTTGTGGAACTGGCTTGGATTGTGTTTAGGAAATTTTGTCATTGGT AAACCTAAGGAGAGTCAAGAGAACAACGTGACCAAAAAATAAAACTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGAC TTTCATTGTACTGGTAGAAAGACAAAGTTTATAATCTGGCTTAGTTTCTTTTTTTGTTGTTGTTT GTTTTTTGGTCAGGGCAAATTTAGGTCATTATTTTTAACACTGGAACTGTAGTTTCAGAGCAGAT AGACAAACTATCAATGAGAATAGATGAACAGCAAGGCCACTGAAAGGACTCAGAACTACATCTTA TAAGAAACAACTGAATGATGCTAATGTTTAACTTGCAAAAGAGAAAACTCAGTTGATTTCAAATA TATGAAATATAGTGGTAAGGAGTTATCACTTATTAAGCAATTACTATTGCAATGTATACTCATTT AATCCTGCTAACAGACATATGAGGTGAATATTATTAGCCTACCCTCGCCTTTTTTAAGTAATGAG AAGACTGTCATCCTGTAGGGTAAAGTAACATGTCCAAACTCATACAGCTACAAAGTTACAAAGCT GATTTATAAAATGATTGACTCCAAGGTCAGGAATTATTATACTGTGTCTTGTCTTCCACATGAAC TAAGCACAAAGGAACTGAATGCAGGCAGACAGATTTCAGCTCAATATAAGAGAATTGTTACATTA GTTCATGGAAGAATATGTTTTAAGGTATTTTTGTTAGTCTCTAGGAAATCTCTGTAACATTTTAT TGTGTAAATTATATGCTTTAATGTAAGAGGATAAAAATAATAGTGAACATTGGCAAAATAGCCTA TGATTAATAGAGTTTACCTATGAGTTATCTGTTTCTAAGATAAATGCCAAAAAATAATATTGGAA TTAAATGTTCCTTTCAAGATCTTCCCTCCCTGCTCCCTGAAATTGCAGTGAATTTTTCAAGACCA ACTGAGGACATGTATTTTCAATGTTTATGGTTAAAAGATATGTACATGCACAGATATATACATGT ACAGAAATGAGAATTACTTCAGAATTGGTGTTAACTTTAGAAAAAAAAAGACCAAGAACTTACTC TTGGTATTTACAAATTTATTTCTAAAATAGAAGCACTCATGGACTTAGAAGTAAGGTATAAAATT CAAAAACGTATCCATGTTTCTCAAGGATCTTGTTGTAGGCCACTCTAATTCCATATATTATGTGG CTTTTCCTAGAATTTTTACACTAGAAAACAGACTGAATGCAAATTTTGTTTTGTTTTAACAACCT TCTTCTCAGAAGCATATGTCTATCGAGGAAGTCTTCAGATAAAAAAGATAAACAATTCCAAACAG GTCTATGAGATTTAAGATGTGAAAGATCAACATTATCTTTAGTTGACTTTACTGGATGCCACAAC CTTCTGATTTCTGTAACCACTTCTTATGCCTCCTACCCACTGAAACAAAATCAGAGGCAAACAGA GCTTCACCCTAGAAATTGGGGAAAATGAGGAACAGGTTTTCTGCACAAAAGTTTATTTGTTTCTC ATTTCTTTTTCAGAAAATAAAGGATCGCTGTTGTTCCCAACAGGTTTGTAGGGAAGAAAATTGGA GAAACATTATTACCTTTTCTTAGATGTTGGCAACGGAGGCAACAAGGACTGCAAAAGAAAATTGT GTGTCCCCCATTCCTAAATAATCAAAATTGGCAGTAGGGATGGAAGAGCATTGGGGTTTTAGGGC TGTTAGGGTTTCATCAAGCCAATGTATTCCCTGCCAGATTTTAAGGAGAAAAAGGCGCTGGAAAA TTGAGTGATGTTAGCCCCCTTTCTTATTTTTGCACTGCTACCAAAGACTAACTCTATCTCTCTCC CCAACCCTTCTCTCCATCTCCCTCCTTTAGATGTGTTTGCACAGAAGAGTGCCCAGTGAAGAGAC CTACTCCTTGGATCGCTTTGCGCAAAATCCACCCCTTTTCCCTCCTCCCTCCCTTCCAGCCTCCG AATCCCGCATGGCCCACGCTCCCCTCCTGCAGCGGTGCGGGGCAGGTGATGAGCCTCTGTGAACT ACTAAGG                                               2412

SEQ ID no. 2 - Intron 2 GTGAGTGATGTTACCAGCCTGAGGGAAGGAGGGTTCACAGCCTGATATGTTGGTGATGTCATAAG CAAAGCAGTATTTATGGAGTGCCCCATTGTCTTAGTCACATTGTAATTTTAATTATTCTTCCTAG CAAAAAAAGCCTTTGAATACTTAAAAATAGGAATTTTCCTCATAATTTTAGGCCTATTAAATCCT TTAAAGAGAATGTAATCTATTTATTTCTGATTTCTCTGTATTTACTTCATAAAAATGGTGTGTAA ATTAGTACATAGCTCTCCCAAGAGTAATTGGAGCTTAAACCCAAAGAGTATTACACTGAGGCTTG TTTAAAATTATCAAGTGGCTGACTACATGGCAAATGTATCTTTCTACACCTAATATCAGAATATT GAACAATCCATCAAAAAATGAAGTGAAAACATCCATTACCTGGAGCCGCCTAGAGACTTTGGACA ATTATTACATTTTTTATATCAATATAGACCTCATGGAGGATCTAGCTCATGTTGAGAGGTTCATT TTTGTTCCCTGAACGAAAGCTTAATGTGATCGAAGTGGACTGCAAAATGGGAAATTTAGAAAAAA ACAAAAAACATTAGAAGTAAAACTTTCTTTGAAAAGTAACAAACAACTGAGTTTCTTCCACAATT TCTTTATAGCCTTAAGTTAGCTCTGGTCAAGGCTAAAAATGAATGAGCAAAATGGCAGTATTAAC ACCTTATGACATAATTAAATGTTGCTGCTAATTTTTCCTTTAAATTCCTTTCTTCTAG                                        773

SEQ ID no. 3 - Intron 1 5′ region GTAAGGAAAGCGCCAGGGCTCCGAGCGGAGGGTTCAGCGGCTTAAGGGGGTACAAAGAGACACCT AACTCCCAAGGCTCAATGTTGGGCGGGAGGATGAAAGAGGGGAGGTAAACTGGGGGGACTCTGGA GGAGACCACGGACAGTGATTGTTATTTCTATGAGAAAACCTACTTTTCTGTTTTTTCTTCAACTG ATAAAGAAAGAATTCAAAATTTCAGGAGCAGAGAAGTTGCTTTGGTAAAAGCTACAAATGTCTAG GGGTGGGGGGCGGAGGGAAGCTATAGCATAGACTTGGAGCGCTTCCTTATACTGAGCAAAGAGGG CTCTTGGCAGAGTCCTACACTCAGTCCCTCTGCAGGAGCTATGGAAAGAGTAAGTTGT                                             383

SEQ ID no. 4 - Intron 1 3′ region AAAAAAAAAATTAAAACCCTCACTGCGTGTGGTGTCTCATGCCTGTAACACAAACACTTTGGGAG GCCGAGGAGGGAGGACTGCTTGAGCCCAAGAGTTCAAGACCACCCTAAGCAACATGTCAAGACCC TGTCCCTACAAAAGTTTTTTAAAATTAACAGGGTATGGTGGCATGCACCTGGGATCCCAGTTATT CAGGAGGTGAGGCAAGAGGATCTCTTGAGTCCAGGAGGTTAAAGCTGTAGTGAGCTCTGTTCATA CCATTACACTCCAGCCTGGGTAACAGGGCAAGATCCTATCCAAAAAAAAAAAGGAAGAAACTCAA CAAAGCAGCATCGTTGCTATTATTGCAGCTATTTAGCCAATAGGTACATCATTGACATCATTGTA AATAGCCAAGCTGATACTGGAAAACAATTCTATATCTAATCTCAAAAAAGCTTTCTACTAATTTC ATGCAAATTTATTATTGGAAGCTTACCTATATTTTACACTAGTGTCTTTTACTGATTCTCACTCT TCTTCCTTTATCTCCTAG                          538

SEQ ID no. 5 - Intron 3 5′ region GTACGCAGTCTCTAGAATTAGGTATATCTACTGGGGATGACATAAAAATTATAAGGCTTTGTGCT AAACTAGGAGTTTAATCCATTATAGAGGATGAGAATGGAGGGAAGAGGGGAAGCAAATTGTGGTT CTAGTGTTAGAGAAGAGGTTTGTTATATAAACTGTGTTCTTTATATTTGACTGTACATATTCATT TAGGTATAAAGATACACCAATGAGAAATCCATGAAACTATTCAAAATAACTATTTTTATGGCCTT TACTTCTATGCAAAAATTTTATGACTTTAGCACATTATAG              300

SEQ ID no. 6 - Intron 3 3′ region TGGTACTGAAAAAAACATCGTTTTTCTTTCAAAATTTTGATCAAGTCATAAATGATTTGAGGCTA AAGAGGGAGGAAGAGGGTAAAAAAAGGGGGAGAAAGAGTTTCAATTAAAATGTATTTTTTCAAGG AAATTATCAATAATCTCTCTATAATGACTAGTATACAGTTCTTTTCAGTAGCATACACAAATGAA GAGCATATTCATAATGAGCCAGAAGATTATTCATAATGTCTGAAGAGATTGATTAATGTCTTGAC ATTTAAGAAAAACTGAGGCTTGCAGGTGAAAGTATACATGAAGGTCTTCAATGCAGTTCTTACGA GCAGAGATGCTCAACAAATGTGTGTTGCAACCGTATCTGAAATGTTCACTGTCTTTGCTCTTTCT CTCCTTTCAG                                       400

SEQ ID no. 7 - cDNA tgggagggggctatacgcagaggagaatgtcagatgctcagctcggtcccctccgcctgacgctc ctctctgtctcagccaggactggtttctgtaagaaacagcaggagctgtggcagcggcgaaagga agcggctgaggcgcttggaacccgaaaagtctcggtgctcctggctacctcgcacagcggtgccc gcccggccgtcagtaccatggacagcagcgctgcccccacgaacgccagcaattgcactgatgcc ttggcgtactcaagttgctccccagcacccagccccggttcctgggtcaacttgtcccacttaga tggcaacctgtccgacccatgcggtccgaaccgcaccaacctgggcgggagagacagcctgtgcc ctccgaccggcagtccctccatgatcacggccatcacgatcatggccctctactccatcgtgtgc gtggtggggctcttcggaaacttcctggtcatgtatgtgattgtcagatacaccaagatgaagac tgccaccaacatctacattttcaaccttgctctggcagatgccttagccaccagtaccctgccct tccagagtgtgaattacctaatgggaacatggccatttggaaccatcctttgcaagatagtgatc tccatagattactataacatgttcaccagcatattcaccctctgcaccatgagtgttgatcgata cattgcagtctgccaccctgtcaaggccttagatttccgtactccccgaaatgccaaaattatca atgtctgcaactggatcctctcttcagccattggtcttcctgtaatgttcatggctacaacaaaa tacaggcaaggttccatagattgtacactaacattctctcatccaacctggtactgggaaaacct cgtgaagatctgtgttttcatcttcgccttcattatgccagtgctcatcattaccgtgtgctatg gactgatgatcttgcgcctcaagagtgtccgcatgctctctggctccaaagaaaaggacaggaat cttcgaaggatcaccaggatggtgctggtggtggtggctgtgttcatcgtctgctggactcccat tcacatttacgtcatcattaaagccttggttacaatcccagaaactacgttccagactgtttctt ggcacttctgcattgctctaggttacacaaacagctgcctcaacccagtcctttatgcatttctg gatgaaaacttcaaacgatgcttcagagagttctgtatcccaacctcttccaacattgagcaaca aaactccactcgaattcgtcagaacactagagaccacccctccacggccaatacagtggatagaa ctaatcatcagctagaaaatctggaagcagaaactgctccgttgccctaacagggtctcatgcca ttccgaccttcaccaagcttagaagccaccatgtatgtggaagcaggttgcttcaagaatgtgta ggaggctctaattctctaggaaagtgcctacttttaggtcatccaacctctttcctctctggcca ctctgctctgcacattagagggacagccaaaagtaagtggagcatttggaaggaaaggaatatac cacaccgaggagtccagtttgtgcaagacacccagtggaaccaaaacccatcgtggtatgtgaat tgaagtcatcataaaaggtgacccttctgtctgtaagattttattttcaagcaaatatttatgac ctcaacaaagaagaaccatcttttgttaagttcaccgtagtaacacataaagtaaatgctacctc tgatcaaagcaccttgaatggaaggtccgagtctttttagtgtttttgcaagggaatgaatccat tattctattttagacttttaacttcaacttaaaattagcatctggctaaggcatcattttcacct ccatttcttggttttgtattgtttaaaaaaaataacatctctttcatctagctccataattgcaa gggaagagattagcatgaaaggtaatctgaaacacagtcatgtgtcanctgtagaaaggttgatt ctcatgcactncaaatacttccaaagagtcatcatgggggatttttcattcttaggctttcagtg gtttgttcctggaattc                                     2162

EXAMPLE 1 Generation of the Promoter Sequence According to SEQ ID No. 1

The amplification of the five different genomic DNA regions covering the promoter region of the human μ opioid receptor is effected with the aid of the promoter finder DNA walking kit from Clontech.

The kit consists of five various gene banks cleaved by a specific restriction endonuclease at the ends of which adapters were ligated. The specific ‘adapter primer’ (AP1) with the sequence 5′-GTAATACGACTCACTATAGGGC-3′ and the gene specific primer (GSP1) MOR1X-R229G with the sequence 5′-GCAATTGCTGGCGTTCGTGGGGG-3′ or MOR1X-R330T with the sequence 5′-CGGTTCGGACCGCATGGGTCGGACAGGTT-3′ were used for the first PCR.

The PCR conditions were as follows: 10×Tth PCR buffer (400 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM KOAc, pH 9.3), 10 mM dNTPs, 25 mM Mg(OAc)₂, 10 μM AP1, 10 μM GSP1, advantage Tth polymerase (5 U) and always an EcoRV-, ScaI-, DraI-, PvuII- or SspI gene bank.

The first PCR was carried out in a Perkin Elmer thermocycler 9600 as follows:

7 cycles: 94° C. for 2 sec, 72° C. for 3 min; 32 cycles: 94° C. for 2 sec, 67° C. for 3 min, finally 67° C. for 4 min.

The first PCR was diluted with dist. H₂O at a ratio of 1:50.

The ‘nested’ ‘adapter primer’ (AP2) with the sequence 5′-ACTATAGGGCACGCGTGGT-3′ and the ‘nested’ gene specific primer (GSP2) MOR1X-P1 with the sequence 5′-GACCGAGCTGAGCATCTGACATTC-3′ or MOR1X-R229G with the sequence 5′-GCAATTGCTGGCGTTCGTGGGGG-3′ were used for the second PCR.

The PCR conditions were as follows: 10×Tth PCR buffer (400 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM KOAc, pH 9.3), 10 mM dNTPs, 25 mM Mg(OAc)₂, 10 μM AP2, 10 μM GSP2, advantage Tth polymerase (5 U) and the five diluted gene banks.

The second PCR was carried out in a Perkin Elmer thermocycler 9600 as follows: 5 cycles: 94° C. for 2 sec, 72° C. for 3 min; 20 cycles: 94° C. for 2 sec, 67° C. for 3 min, finally 67° C. for 4 min.

The five various fragments were electrophoretically separated on a 2% agarose gel. The fragments had a size of approx. 2.8 kb using the AscI gene bank, approx. 2.6 kb using the DraII gene bank, approx. 1.6 kb using the SspI gene bank, approx. 1.5 kb using the PvuII gene bank and approx. 1.2 kb using the EcoRV gene bank. Sequencing was effected with the aid of the thermosequenase ‘cycle sequencing kits’ from Amersham. The second PCR primers were used as sequencing primers and successively new primers were synthesized. By means of the same strategy the genomic DNA sequences in the 5′ and 3′ regions of intron 1 were cloned according to SEQ ID no. 3 and SEQ ID no. 4 and of intron 3 according to SEQ ID no. 4 and of intron 3 according to SEQ ID no. 5 and SEQ ID no. 6.

EXAMPLE 2

By means of an analogous strategy the genomic DNA sequence of intron 2 was cloned according to SEQ ID no. 2.

7 1 2412 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 1 tgtgttagtg agcagacctc ccttaggaac cttattacgg agtacaaagc taggagagta 60 aataaagtat attaaaaaat gcatacaaaa gatgacagaa tcaccattcc aaaagatctt 120 ggtggataag aatcatgaat tggatctaac aagatgtaac ttaaaagtga aaaaatctat 180 agtgttgtac tgagctccct ccaaagcaac tataaattta taggagatga aacatatgat 240 tcaccaggca taagaagaaa gtttccgtaa tcaaacacta ttgtatccat ctttttaaac 300 tccagctcct atcacagcac ctggtccaaa gcagatcttt agtatttgtg gaactggctt 360 ggattgtgtt taggaaattt tgtcattggt aaacctaagg agagtcaaga gaacaacgtg 420 accaaaaaat aaaactaaaa aaaaaaaaaa gggactttca ttgtactggt agaaagacaa 480 agtttataat ctggcttagt ttcttttttt gttgttgttt gttttttggt cagggcaaat 540 ttaggtcatt atttttaaca ctggaactgt agtttcagag cagatagaca aactatcaat 600 gagaatagat gaacagcaag gccactgaaa ggactcagaa ctacatctta taagaaacaa 660 ctgaatgatg ctaatgttta acttgcaaaa gagaaaactc agttgatttc aaatatatga 720 aatatagtgg taaggagtta tcacttatta agcaattact attgcaatgt atactcattt 780 aatcctgcta acagacatat gaggtgaata ttattagcct accctcgcct tttttaagta 840 atgagaagac tgtcatcctg tagggtaaag taacatgtcc aaactcatac agctacaaag 900 ttacaaagct gatttataaa atgattgact ccaaggtcag gaattattat actgtgtctt 960 gtcttccaca tgaactaagc acaaaggaac tgaatgcagg cagacagatt tcagctcaat 1020 ataagagaat tgttacatta gttcatggaa gaatatgttt taaggtattt ttgttagtct 1080 ctaggaaatc tctgtaacat tttattgtgt aaattatatg ctttaatgta agaggataaa 1140 aataatagtg aacattggca aaatagccta tgattaatag agtttaccta tgagttatct 1200 gtttctaaga taaatgccaa aaaataatat tggaattaaa tgttcctttc aagatcttcc 1260 ctccctgctc cctgaaattg cagtgaattt ttcaagacca actgaggaca tgtattttca 1320 atgtttatgg ttaaaagata tgtacatgca cagatatata catgtacaga aatgagaatt 1380 acttcagaat tggtgttaac tttagaaaaa aaaagaccaa gaacttactc ttggtattta 1440 caaatttatt tctaaaatag aagcactcat ggacttagaa gtaaggtata aaattcaaaa 1500 acgtatccat gtttctcaag gatcttgttg taggccactc taattccata tattatgtgg 1560 cttttcctag aatttttaca ctagaaaaca gactgaatgc aaattttgtt ttgttttaac 1620 aaccttcttc tcagaagcat atgtctatcg aggaagtctt cagataaaaa agataaacaa 1680 ttccaaacag gtctatgaga tttaagatgt gaaagatcaa cattatcttt agttgacttt 1740 actggatgcc acaaccttct gatttctgta accacttctt atgcctccta cccactgaaa 1800 caaaatcaga ggcaaacaga gcttcaccct agaaattggg gaaaatgagg aacaggtttt 1860 ctgcacaaaa gtttatttgt ttctcatttc tttttcagaa aataaaggat cgctgttgtt 1920 cccaacaggt ttgtagggaa gaaaattgga gaaacattat taccttttct tagatgttgg 1980 caacggaggc aacaaggact gcaaaagaaa attgtgtgtc ccccattcct aaataatcaa 2040 aattggcagt agggatggaa gagcattggg gttttagggc tgttagggtt tcatcaagcc 2100 aatgtattcc ctgccagatt ttaaggagaa aaaggcgctg gaaaattgag tgatgttagc 2160 cccctttctt atttttgcac tgctaccaaa gactaactct atctctctcc ccaacccttc 2220 tctccatctc cctcctttag atgtgtttgc acagaagagt gcccagtgaa gagacctact 2280 ccttggatcg ctttgcgcaa aatccacccc ttttccctcc tccctccctt ccagcctccg 2340 aatcccgcat ggcccacgct cccctcctgc agcggtgcgg ggcaggtgat gagcctctgt 2400 gaactactaa gg 2412 2 773 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 2 gtgagtgatg ttaccagcct gagggaagga gggttcacag cctgatatgt tggtgatgtc 60 ataagcaaag cagtatttat ggagtgcccc attgtcttag tcacattgta attttaatta 120 ttcttcctag caaaaaaagc ctttgaatac ttaaaaatag gaattttcct cataatttta 180 ggcctattaa atcctttaaa gagaatgtaa tctatttatt tctgatttct ctgtatttac 240 ttcataaaaa tggtgtgtaa attagtacat agctctccca agagtaattg gagcttaaac 300 ccaaagagta ttacactgag gcttgtttaa aattatcaag tggctgacta catggcaaat 360 gtatctttct acacctaata tcagaatatt gaacaatcca tcaaaaaatg aagtgaaaac 420 atccattacc tggagccgcc tagagacttt ggacaattat tacatttttt atatcaatat 480 agacctcatg gaggatctag ctcatgttga gaggttcatt tttgttccct gaacgaaagc 540 ttaatgtgat cgaagtggac tgcaaaatgg gaaatttaga aaaaaacaaa aaacattaga 600 agtaaaactt tctttgaaaa gtaacaaaca actgagtttc ttccacaatt tctttatagc 660 cttaagttag ctctggtcaa ggctaaaaat gaatgagcaa aatggcagta ttaacacctt 720 atgacataat taaatgttgc tgctaatttt tcctttaaat tcctttcttc tag 773 3 383 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 3 gtaaggaaag cgccagggct ccgagcggag ggttcagcgg cttaaggggg tacaaagaga 60 cacctaactc ccaaggctca atgttgggcg ggaggatgaa agaggggagg taaactgggg 120 ggactctgga ggagaccacg gacagtgatt gttatttcta tgagaaaacc tacttttctg 180 ttttttcttc aactgataaa gaaagaattc aaaatttcag gagcagagaa gttgctttgg 240 taaaagctac aaatgtctag gggtgggggg cggagggaag ctatagcata gacttggagc 300 gcttccttat actgagcaaa gagggctctt ggcagagtcc tacactcagt ccctctgcag 360 gagctatgga aagagtaagt tgt 383 4 538 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 4 aaaaaaaaaa ttaaaaccct cactgcgtgt ggtgtctcat gcctgtaaca caaacacttt 60 gggaggccga ggagggagga ctgcttgagc ccaagagttc aagaccaccc taagcaacat 120 gtcaagaccc tgtccctaca aaagtttttt aaaattaaca gggtatggtg gcatgcacct 180 gggatcccag ttattcagga ggtgaggcaa gaggatctct tgagtccagg aggttaaagc 240 tgtagtgagc tctgttcata ccattacact ccagcctggg taacagggca agatcctatc 300 caaaaaaaaa aaggaagaaa ctcaacaaag cagcatcgtt gctattattg cagctattta 360 gccaataggt acatcattga catcattgta aatagccaag ctgatactgg aaaacaattc 420 tatatctaat ctcaaaaaag ctttctacta atttcatgca aatttattat tggaagctta 480 cctatatttt acactagtgt cttttactga ttctcactct tcttccttta tctcctag 538 5 300 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 5 gtacgcagtc tctagaatta ggtatatcta ctggggatga cataaaaatt ataaggcttt 60 gtgctaaact aggagtttaa tccattatag aggatgagaa tggagggaag aggggaagca 120 aattgtggtt ctagtgttag agaagaggtt tgttatataa actgtgttct ttatatttga 180 ctgtacatat tcatttaggt ataaagatac accaatgaga aatccatgaa actattcaaa 240 ataactattt ttatggcctt tacttctatg caaaaatttt atgactttag cacattatag 300 6 400 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 6 tggtactgaa aaaaacatcg tttttctttc aaaattttga tcaagtcata aatgatttga 60 ggctaaagag ggaggaagag ggtaaaaaaa gggggagaaa gagtttcaat taaaatgtat 120 tttttcaagg aaattatcaa taatctctct ataatgacta gtatacagtt cttttcagta 180 gcatacacaa atgaagagca tattcataat gagccagaag attattcata atgtctgaag 240 agattgatta atgtcttgac atttaagaaa aactgaggct tgcaggtgaa agtatacatg 300 aaggtcttca atgcagttct tacgagcaga gatgctcaac aaatgtgtgt tgcaaccgta 360 tctgaaatgt tcactgtctt tgctctttct ctcctttcag 400 7 2162 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence Human Genomic Clone 7 tgggaggggg ctatacgcag aggagaatgt cagatgctca gctcggtccc ctccgcctga 60 cgctcctctc tgtctcagcc aggactggtt tctgtaagaa acagcaggag ctgtggcagc 120 ggcgaaagga agcggctgag gcgcttggaa cccgaaaagt ctcggtgctc ctggctacct 180 cgcacagcgg tgcccgcccg gccgtcagta ccatggacag cagcgctgcc cccacgaacg 240 ccagcaattg cactgatgcc ttggcgtact caagttgctc cccagcaccc agccccggtt 300 cctgggtcaa cttgtcccac ttagatggca acctgtccga cccatgcggt ccgaaccgca 360 ccaacctggg cgggagagac agcctgtgcc ctccgaccgg cagtccctcc atgatcacgg 420 ccatcacgat catggccctc tactccatcg tgtgcgtggt ggggctcttc ggaaacttcc 480 tggtcatgta tgtgattgtc agatacacca agatgaagac tgccaccaac atctacattt 540 tcaaccttgc tctggcagat gccttagcca ccagtaccct gcccttccag agtgtgaatt 600 acctaatggg aacatggcca tttggaacca tcctttgcaa gatagtgatc tccatagatt 660 actataacat gttcaccagc atattcaccc tctgcaccat gagtgttgat cgatacattg 720 cagtctgcca ccctgtcaag gccttagatt tccgtactcc ccgaaatgcc aaaattatca 780 atgtctgcaa ctggatcctc tcttcagcca ttggtcttcc tgtaatgttc atggctacaa 840 caaaatacag gcaaggttcc atagattgta cactaacatt ctctcatcca acctggtact 900 gggaaaacct cgtgaagatc tgtgttttca tcttcgcctt cattatgcca gtgctcatca 960 ttaccgtgtg ctatggactg atgatcttgc gcctcaagag tgtccgcatg ctctctggct 1020 ccaaagaaaa ggacaggaat cttcgaagga tcaccaggat ggtgctggtg gtggtggctg 1080 tgttcatcgt ctgctggact cccattcaca tttacgtcat cattaaagcc ttggttacaa 1140 tcccagaaac tacgttccag actgtttctt ggcacttctg cattgctcta ggttacacaa 1200 acagctgcct caacccagtc ctttatgcat ttctggatga aaacttcaaa cgatgcttca 1260 gagagttctg tatcccaacc tcttccaaca ttgagcaaca aaactccact cgaattcgtc 1320 agaacactag agaccacccc tccacggcca atacagtgga tagaactaat catcagctag 1380 aaaatctgga agcagaaact gctccgttgc cctaacaggg tctcatgcca ttccgacctt 1440 caccaagctt agaagccacc atgtatgtgg aagcaggttg cttcaagaat gtgtaggagg 1500 ctctaattct ctaggaaagt gcctactttt aggtcatcca acctctttcc tctctggcca 1560 ctctgctctg cacattagag ggacagccaa aagtaagtgg agcatttgga aggaaaggaa 1620 tataccacac cgaggagtcc agtttgtgca agacacccag tggaaccaaa acccatcgtg 1680 gtatgtgaat tgaagtcatc ataaaaggtg acccttctgt ctgtaagatt ttattttcaa 1740 gcaaatattt atgacctcaa caaagaagaa ccatcttttg ttaagttcac cgtagtaaca 1800 cataaagtaa atgctacctc tgatcaaagc accttgaatg gaaggtccga gtctttttag 1860 tgtttttgca agggaatgaa tccattattc tattttagac ttttaacttc aacttaaaat 1920 tagcatctgg ctaaggcatc attttcacct ccatttcttg gttttgtatt gtttaaaaaa 1980 aataacatct ctttcatcta gctccataat tgcaagggaa gagattagca tgaaaggtaa 2040 tctgaaacac agtcatgtgt canctgtaga aaggttgatt ctcatgcact ncaaatactt 2100 ccaaagagtc atcatggggg atttttcatt cttaggcttt cagtggtttg ttcctggaat 2160 tc 2162 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated and purified genomic DNA sequence comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO. 1, said sequence encoding a regulatory region of a human μ-opioid receptor gene.
 2. The genomic sequence according to claim 1, wherein the base substitution is T→A, and occurs at position −1793/4 of SEQ ID NO.
 1. 3. The genomic sequence according to claim 1, further comprising a promoter region according to base pairs 1-2412 of SEQ ID NO.
 1. 4. The genomic sequence according to claim 1, wherein the sequence comprises one or more nucleotide sequence variations, wherein the one or more variations are selected from the group consisting of: i. a 22 base pair insertion behind position −1768, ii. an insertion of T behind −1699, iii. T→C at −1595, iv. T→C at −1565, v. T→C at −1469, vi. A→G at −1320, vii. A→T at −1255, viii. A→G at −1236, ix. A→G at −1171, x. A→G at −1045, xi. C→A at −995, xii. G→C at −692, xiii. deletion of 3 base pairs from −665 to −663, xiv. G→A at −554, xv. G→T at −488, xvi. T→A at −1793/4 xvii. A→C at −254, and xviii. A→G at −236. 